Fourteen months into the pandemic, Niagara’s major food banks are rallying together to raise concerns
The agencies stressing there is a desperate need for governments to work with service providers to find solutions to reduce increasing conditions of poverty across all municipalities.
Port Cares Executive Director Christine Clark Lafleur says even with the income supports provided by government since COVID-19 hit, all of Niagara’s registered food banks are experiencing significant increases in the number of people we are assisting compared to a year ago. The high cost of housing along with low supply of affordable and safe rental units, coupled with the impact of the pandemic on service sector jobs is driving the surge.
Betty- Lou Souter, Chief Executive Officer of Community Care, St. Catharines & Thorold adds her agency has seen an increase around 37 per cent in those utlitizing the food bank over the last 14 months and the numbers continue to grow.
Jon Braithwaite, Chief Executive Officer of The Hope Centre says they are seeing significant increases in those who are in need of emergency food, including a 70 per cent increase in visits this April over April of last year.
Pam Sharp, Executive Director, Project SHARE noting since our fiscal year began on June 1, 2020, we’ve seen 587 new families come to us for help for the very first time. It’s no secret our local economy has been hit hard,
Carole Fuhrer, Executive Director of Community Care West Niagara says we have observed that almost 25 per cent have openly shared they never thought they would need to seek our services.
The group is convening meetings with all levels of governments to make sure that local officials are aware of the situation.
All locations are taking non-perishable food and monetary donations, as they continue to meet the needs of thousands in their communities.
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